Both trauma and stress can seriously impact people. Trauma and stressor related disorders are a single category, as the role they play with the development of select disorders is so similar. While trauma obviously impacts the person directly influenced, it also impacts others around them.
What is Secondary Trauma?
Secondary traumatic stress is a result of being indirectly affected by someone else’s firsthand trauma. It can be common in mental health professionals as they hear traumatic things all day from patients. Child welfare workers suffer as well, consistently listening to horrible stories from children.
Secondary trauma doesn’t only happen to professionals that deal with mental health issues. This can happen to anyone. If you’re struggling with being the confidant for a friend or family member, their trauma can be affecting you.
Witnessing someone else’s trauma also leads to possible secondary trauma. For instance, you see a friend get hit or witness verbal abuse. Flashbacks interrupt your sleep and you start getting overwhelmed by emotions. These signs indicate that the incidents affected you more than you first thought.
Treatment Options for Secondary Trauma
Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles provides individual trauma treatment for all of our patients. This includes people suffering from secondary traumatic stress. In addition to traditional talk therapy, we offer other therapies such as:
- PTSD treatment
- Brainspotting
- Somatic therapy
- Anxiety therapy
- EMDR therapy
- Cognitive Processing Therapy
We give you well-rounded therapy to cover your issues in all ways. Talk therapy is always helpful. However, we want to find the right combination that works specifically for you. Various other forms of therapy can boost talk therapy. We strive to make sure you benefit from our services as much as possible. That’s why we create an individual plan for you.
Childhood Trauma
Secondary trauma is often an impact of suppressed childhood trauma. Whether you witnessed a domestic violence incident or were in the room when a sibling is abused, it impacts you more than you realize. The secondary traumatic stress manifests itself down the road. The triggers come without you even realizing what’s happening.
It’s not unusual for you to not even realize that you carry trauma from instances in your childhood. Secondary trauma is sometimes hard to realize until something triggers it. Don’t disregard these events and make sure you get help before it gets worse.
Secondary trauma is a serious issue that can invade your life and mind. We’re ready to give you the treatment to help you move forward. Contact us at 310.720.8200 or visit our website to learn more. It’s time to get the help you need.
